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September 7, 2000

REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building September 7, 2000

The Board of Trustees of Western Carolina University met in regular session on September 7, 2000, in Room 510, H.F. Robinson Building. The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chancellor Bardo.

ATTENDANCE

The following members of the Board were present: Ms. Key, Mr. Story, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Burda, Mr. Crocker, Mr. Bissette, Mr. Apodaca, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Wiggins, Mr. Beddingfield, Mr. Rowe, and Mr. Jones.

The following members of the Board were absent: Mrs. Hyde.

Others present included: Chancellor Bardo; Vice Chancellors Carter, Caruso, Collings, Eldridge; Dr. Dowell and Ms. Lynch, Assistants to the Chancellor; Dr. Hurley, Chair of the Faculty; Mr. Kucharski, Legal Counsel; Mr. Compher, Athletic Director; Mr. Studenc, Associate Director of Public Information; Mr. Orr, Chair of the Staff Forum; Dr. Kehrberg, Director of University Planning; Dr. Prochaska, Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Haggard, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; and Ms. Welch, Assistant Secretary to the Board.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Dr. Bardo called for nominations for Chairman of the Board. Mr. Apodaca nominated Ms. Key; Mr. Walker seconded the nomination. Mr. Crocker moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Phillips seconded the motion. The motion to close the nominations was approved unanimously. Ms. Key was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Ms. Key called for nominations for Vice Chairman of the Board. Mr. Bissette nominated Mr. Crocker; Mr. Apodaca seconded the nomination. Mr. Bissette moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Phillips seconded the motion. The motion to close the nominations was approved unanimously. Mr. Crocker was unanimously elected as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Ms. Key called for nominations for Secretary of the Board. Mr. Apodaca nominated Mr. Walker; Mr. Crocker seconded the nomination. Mr. Crocker moved that the nominations be closed; Mr. Phillips seconded the motion. The motion to close the nominations was approved unanimously. Mr. Walker was unanimously elected as Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Mr. Walker moved that the minutes of the June 14, 2000 meeting be approved as mailed. Mrs. Burda seconded the motion, and it was approved.

CLOSED SESSION Open Meeting Act

Mr. Crocker moved that the Board go into closed session to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. Mrs. Burda seconded the motion, and it was approved. Dr. Bardo asked Dr. Collings to stay for the closed session.

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

Mr. Jones moved that the Board return to open session. Mrs. Burda seconded, and it was approved unanimously.

REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AND PERSONNEL COMMITTEE

Mr. Crocker moved that the actions as discussed in the closed session--seven recommendations for administrative appointments, twenty-eight recommendations for faculty appointments, six recommendations for staff appointments, three recommendations for professor emeritus status, and one recommendation for retired associate status--be approved. Mr. Apodaca seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. Mr. Beddingfield and Mr. Story abstained from voting.

REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Mr. Walker asked Dr. Carter to explain the exterior wall repair project at the Ramsey Center. It was discovered in the course of a current routine project that the masonry on the exterior of the Ramsey Center is not properly anchored, and the cement block, in some cases, is not properly tied to the structure. A designer is already dealing with the project in progress and it makes sense to have him take on the expanded work. The need exists to get as much of this work done as possible before bad weather. The scope of the work is large and the appearance of the building will be marred for the duration of the project. Discussion of this problem and any legal remedies possible followed. Mr. Walker moved that the Board of Trustees delegate to the Chancellor authority to select a firm to provide the necessary engineering design services for the expanded project. Mr. Crocker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.

Mr. Walker asked Dr. Carter to update the Board on current projects. Dr. Carter explained that the three main projects apt to go into construction soon are the Hinds University Center addition, the workforce development center, and the stadium expansion. When the bond issue passes, the Fine and Performing Arts Center project will be ready to go to bid early in the new year. The 300 bed dorm is in the design phase. The location will be up beyond the alumni house. The building will have private bedrooms with a living room shared by four students. This project is also included in the bond referendum.

Mr. Crocker asked about the North Carolina A&T University housing project financing. He asked if Western could finance a housing project the same way. Dr. Carter said that at A&T the financing is a private venture; the University leases and manages the building, and a 501c3 will own it. If our growth occurs as projected, this approach may be part of Western's strategy. Mr. Crocker asked if the bond issue does not pass, could the new financing procedure work. Lengthy discussion of this issue followed.

REPORT OF THE ALUMNI, HONORS, AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Bissette stated that the Committee would show a brief video tape concerning the statewide bond issue. After the tape viewing was over, Mr. Bissette moved that the Board endorse a resolution in support of the higher education bonds. Mr. Walker seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously. (COPY OF BOND RESOLUTION ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS)

Mr. Bissette stated that the Committee would also play the current recruitment radio spots. The Board enjoyed the spots.

REPORT OF THE STUDENT AND ATHLETIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Mr. Apodaca asked Mr. Rowe to give a report from the Student Government Association. Mr. Rowe reported that the president of the Association of Student Governments, who sits as an ex-officio member of the Board of Governors, has been criminally charged and is stepping down from his office. The ASG is trying to change its perception and reputation. The Senate elections are next week. The SGA is working on a few new initiatives.

Mr. Apodaca asked Mr. Compher to give a report from Athletics. Mr. Compher stated that he would like to highlight the department's goals for the year. (ATTACHMENTS ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS). He stated that the Sylva Herald has an article on these goals in its current issue. Mr. Compher stated that the biggest effort this year will be the establishment of a life skills program in coordination with Student Affairs. The Student Athlete handbook lists five components of a life skills program. They will also be reaching out to regional high schools, etc. to try to draw people here to use the facilities. This will hopefully include some regional games and championships here. Athletics and SGA will work very hard together on trying to improve the spirit at our games. On September 14, they are hoping to launch a .com website.

Mr. Compher further stated that they have completed a progress report on all of the recommendations of the Athletic Task Force report. (REPORT ON FILE WITH MINUTES MATERIALS). He stated that he will send this progress report to the task force members and to the athletics committee.

Mr. Apodaca asked Dr. Caruso to report on Student Affairs. Dr. Caruso reported on some personnel searches. He reported on a new leadership scholarship program. He also commended the CHAMPS life skill program. The new residence hall advance planning is going well. He discussed the Community Link Program. This involves distance learning with western high schools. This would reach counselors in high schools in the areas of transition to university life.

Mr. Apodaca commended Advancement, Athletics and Student Affairs for working together so well.

(Mr. Story left the meeting at 11:00 a.m.)

COMMENTS FROM CHAIRMAN KEY

Ms. Key stated that she expects the bond issue to pass but that we need support from the Board to support this effort. Ms. Key would like 100% Board participation in raising money for this bond effort.

Ms. Key pointed out the finalized Board self-assessment facilitated by Dr. Ed Penson. (SELF-ASSESSMENT INCLUDED IN MINUTES MATERIALS).

Ms. Key further explained that Dr. Penson will be here on campus the week of September 25 to do interviews for the campus-wide chancellor review. Ms. Key has appointed a committee of Mr. Crocker, Mrs. Burda, and Mrs. Helen Marvin from the Board of Governors to oversee this review. Dr. Penson will come back on November 1 to give the final report on this review to the Board.

Ms. Key stated that the November 1 Board Retreat will be held at her home.

PROGRESS REPORT ON ENROLLMENT AND RETENTION AND COMMENTS FROM CHANCELLOR BARDO

Dr. Bardo explained that the football field turf will be finished by Saturday.

He stated that Tuesday was the freeze date for official enrollment. We have 1,216 freshman. The total undergraduate count is 6,449. The graduate school enrollment is flat. Our SAT is 1005, up forty points from 1996. The state system average SAT is 988. There is an increase in the quantity and quality of students coming from the west. Mecklenburg County is the number one source of students; Wake County is number two. The number of applications almost reached 4,000.

Dr. Bardo presented information on retention. He said that the academic retention task force is being put together by Dr. Hurley.

He asked Dr. Hurley to comment. Dr. Hurley stated that he has been pleasantly surprised with the response of the faculty to this issue. He invited anyone interested in serving on the task force to volunteer. He has had excellent response. The faculty is not reluctant to do this; they are very enthusiastic about it. It will be contentious, but this faculty is willing to take on contentious issues.

Dr. Bardo stated that September 11 is the major kick-off of the task force and the retention issue. Dr. Vincent Tinto from the University of Syracuse will be the main speaker. Dr. Tinto's work focuses on the core relationship between the student and the faculty member. Dr. Mel Lockhart will be explaining her results from the Paulein Group study. Dr. Kehrberg will be presenting data giving some sense of why we are worrying about these things.

Dr. Bardo stated that the west stands contractor renigged on the contract. A new contractor will be here this weekend to look at other options.

Dr. Bardo mentioned the Board's support of the bond referendum. Each university has been assigned a target of fundraising equal in thousands to the number of millions that would be appropriated through the bond referendum. Our target is $98,400. We have $21,000 pledged thus far. We need the trustees' help with this effort. He strongly encouraged the Board to be familiar with all of the reasons why the bond referendum is a worthwhile issue.

REPORT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Dr. Eldridge, speaking for Mr. Reid, stated that the license plates will be forthcoming. They are still being made. She explained that Homecoming is October 20-21. She stated that the Annual Grove Park Inn Holiday luncheon and musical program is December 1. Western's chamber singers will be singing.

REPORT FROM THE CHAIR OF THE STAFF FORUM

Mr. Orr stated that the Staff Forum is very much involved in retention issues. They are scheduling a series of events that raise awareness of retention issues among staff. He stated that retention is not just academics, it is everything.

Dr. Bardo stated that Dr. Haggard is the chairman of the University Advisory Council, the new governance body that is comprised of a representative of each major constituency on campus(faculty, staff, students, administrators).

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Chairman Key adjourned the meeting at 11:55 a.m.

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